title: Botulinum toxin injections for cervical dystonia.
abstract: We followed 205 of 232 patients with medically intractable cervical dystonia for at least 3 months and up to 4 years, during which time they received 1,074 injections in 505 visits. One hundred forty-five of the 205 patients (71%) improved substantially (global rating greater than or equal to 2; from 0 = no response to 4 = marked improvement in severity and function) after 1 or more visits. Of the 89 patients who reported pain, 68 (76%) had almost complete relief of their pain. While most patients noted improvement within the 1st week after injection, some had a latency of up to 8.5 weeks. Duration of maximum benefit lasted up to 12.5 months in some, but the average was 11.2 weeks. Only 58 of 205 (28%) patients, seen in 76 of 505 visits (15% of all visits), had complications, primarily mild dysphagia (35 patients) or neck weakness (17 patients). We conclude that botulinum toxin is a safe and effective therapy for most patients with cervical dystonia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jankovic
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schwartz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004421:Dystonia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D001905:Botulinum Toxins